Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1970185 - Ocean Drilling And Exploration Co.

Inspection Information - Office: Mobile Area Office

Inspection Nr: 1970185

Report ID: 0418600

Date Opened: 12/10/1985

Site Address:
Ocean Drilling And Exploration Co.
265 S. Water St.
Mobile, AL 36601

Mailing Address:
1600 Canal St., P. O. Box 61780, New Orleans, LA 70161

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:1311

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Health

Close Conference: 03/11/1986

Planning Guide: Health-Maritime

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 09/30/1986

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	360172910

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	2					2
Current Violations	2					2
Initial Penalty	$1,500	$0	$0	$0	$0	$1,500
Current Penalty	$850	$0	$0	$0	$0	$850
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001A	Serious	19150007 A01	03/12/1986	03/15/1986	$550	$800	$0	04/04/1986	F - Formal Settlement
2.	01001B	Serious	19150007 C01	03/12/1986	03/15/1986	$0	$0	$0	04/04/1986	F - Formal Settlement
3.	01001C	Serious	19150012 C01	03/12/1986	03/15/1986	$0	$0	$0	04/04/1986	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
4.	01002A	Serious	19150072 A01	03/12/1986	03/28/1986	$700	$700	$0	04/04/1986	F - Formal Settlement	Citation has been deleted.
5.	01002B	Serious	19150152 B03	03/12/1986	03/15/1986	$300	$0	$0	04/04/1986	F - Formal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 14352686

Event: 12/10/1985

EMPLOYEES DIED OF OXYGEN DEFICIENCY IN OIL RIG BALLAST TUBE

THREE MEN WERE INSPECTING THE INTERIOR OF A BALLAST TUBE ON A SEMISUBMERSIBLE OIL DRILLING RIG. THE RIG HAD BEEN DRYDOCKED AT A SHIPYARD FOR REPAIRS. THE BALLAST TUBE WAS HOLLOW AND ABOUT 108 FEET LONG. THE INSIDE DIAMETER WAS 10 FEET. THE TUBE WAS DIVIDED VERTICALLY INTO THREE COMPARTMENTS. THE MEN TESTED THE AIR IN THE ACCESS COLUMN AND DESCENDED A 24 FOOT FIXED LADDER TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST COMPARTMENT. THEY THEN REMOVED THE MANHOLE COVER FROM THE TOP OF THE SECOND COMPARTMENT AND TESTED THE AIR THERE. IT WAS FOUND TO BE SAFE, SO EMPLOYEE #2 ENTERED THE COMPARTMENT AND STARTED DOWN THE LADDER. AFTER HE HAD GONE ABOUT FIVE FEET DOWN THE LADDER HE FELL THE REMAINING 32 FEET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE COMPARTMENT. THE THIRD EMPLOYEE THEN LEFT THE TUBE TO LOOK FOR HELP IN RESCUING THE EMPLOYEE WHO FELL. BY THE TIME HE RETURNED WITH HELP, THE OXYGEN ALARM WAS OPERATING AND BOTH OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES WERE FOUND LYING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SECOND COMPARTMENT. AUTOPSY REPORTS SHOWED THAT BOTH MEN DIED OF ASPHYXIA AND BLUNT FORCE INJURIES.

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, ASPHYXIATED, CONFINED SPACE, AIR MONITORING, FALL, OIL RIG

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	1970185			Fatality	Asphyxia	Engineers, n.e.c.
2	1970185			Fatality	Asphyxia	Marine engineers and naval architects

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